EU Decries Allocation of Over 100,000 Policemen in Nigeria to VIPs
By Hajara Abdullahi
The European Union (EU) has expressed concern over the deployment of more than 100,000 police officers in Nigeria to protect politicians and other Very Important Persons (VIPs).
According to a publication by Punch Newspaper in November 2025, citing a report from the EU Agency for Asylum, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has an estimated 371,800 officers serving a population of about 236.7 million.
The report highlighted that Nigeria is facing a significant policing deficit due to the allocation of a large portion of its officers to VIPs instead of the general public. “Both recent sources and sources dating back as far as 2007 claimed that the NPF had an estimated strength of 371,800, serving a total population estimated in 2024 at 236,747,130,” the report stated.
The EU agency lamented that the shortage of police personnel has left many communities vulnerable. “This shortage in manpower, as well as corruption and insufficient resources, has resulted in delayed responses to crimes and numerous communities being left without protection,” the report added.
It further noted that weak accountability mechanisms have enabled police officers to engage in unprofessional practices, including misconduct, arbitrary arrests, extortion, and excessive use of force.
After assuming office in June 2023, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the withdrawal of Police Mobile Force operatives from VIP duties, directing that the tactical unit be reserved for strategic national operations. He reiterated this directive in April 2025, again ordering the withdrawal of mobile police officers deployed to VIPs.
Despite these directives, several reports indicate that a large portion of police personnel are still assigned to VIP protection duties.
